Insensitive. This, in a word, was how the Genuine Opposition (GO) described the statements made earlier by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, saying that such remarks on dead US Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell was “definitely uncalled for.” “Imagine, this (Campbell) is a person who is not a Filipino, who came here to teach poor students in Albay to give them a better life, then he (Gonzalez) says she is to blame and that she should not have been walking alone?” Tamano said. Tamano said such statements by Gonzalez is a reflection of the height of insensitivity of certain government officials, particularly those who are strongly allied with the administration.

This, in a word, was how the Genuine Opposition (GO) described the statements made earlier by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, saying that such remarks on dead US Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell was “definitely uncalled for.”

GO spokesman Adel Tamano told a media briefing at the GO general headquarters in Makati City that President Arroyo should put in check her Justice secretary who apparently has a proclivity to issue out unsavory statements over current issues.

Gonzalez was earlier quoted by the press as saying Campbell is partly to be blamed for her own death for deciding to go trekking in a remote mountain area by herself.

“Imagine, this (Campbell) is a person who is not a Filipino, who came here to teach poor students in Albay to give them a better life, then he (Gonzalez) says she is to blame and that she should not have been walking alone?” Tamano said.

Tamano said such statements by Gonzalez is a reflection of the height of insensitivity of certain government officials, particularly those who are strongly allied with the administration.

“This is really the height of insensitivity. He is in a place of a sensitive position in government. To put someone and say things like these, and to think that this person is the agent of the President, is only reflective of what kind of road the administration is taking,” he said.

Taguig-Pateros Rep. and GO senatorial candidate Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, said it was high-time for Mrs. Arroyo to be asked whether she should take the stand of her Justice secretary or not.

“Why do you have to encourage people to come here to the Philippines if you know that the streets and the places are not safe? The President should be asked: Are you supporting your secretary’s stand, or are you conveniently using him as one of your attack dogs?” Cayetano said.

Sonia Roco, another GO senatorial candidate, said Gonzalez should take a “crash course” on gender-sensitivity.

“I’ve noticed that he is not gender sensitive. This, then, should be the program of the government. Gender-sensitivity is like changing your frame of mind toward women. You don’t consider them as objects,” Roco said.

Tamano said while the country already has a high-level of awareness on gender sensitivity, the government has yet to respond to the women’s need for equal representation in government institutions such as the Senate.

Sorsogon Rep. and also GO senatorial candidate Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he is confident that local authorities will soon be able to identify and prosecute the one responsible for the murder of Campbell.

He said though the murder may be an isolated case as the Philippine National Police (PNP) has described, the incident has still contributed to the negative perception of the Philippines being a dangerous country for foreigners as well for inhabitants.

Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace CorpsSenator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical ClearanceThe purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" againThe LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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Story Source: The Daily Tribune

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Philippines; Safety; Crime

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